Turkish Music Tonalities (Makam) and their Effects on Human Beings

Nihavend Tonality

Sign: CAPRICORN (Saggitarius). Planet: SATURN-JUPITER; Group: EARTH-FIRE. Hot and dry in nature. It makes a better impression after mid-afternoon. It has connections with yellow gall, the daytime and masculinity. It has effects on blood circulation, the abdominal area, the hips, the thigh and the legs. It is beneficial against acute abdominal pain, aching waist, and illnesses related to blood pressure. There is important evidence that this tonality makes an impact on mental disorders. It is one of the most ancient tonalities.

Rast Tonality

A hot-dry tonality. Effective at midnight and dawn. Prevents over sleeping. Affects cold organs like the brain, the bones and fats. Increases low pulse rate. Corrects the imbalances caused by humidity which controls children’s body. Good for mental illnesses. It has a relation with yellow gall. Shows a masculine character. It is more effective on Tuesdays and in the mornings. It is associated with water group and the sign of Capricorn. It is one of the four major tonalities with high healing value. Induces joy, internal composure and relaxation. Heals paralysis. Affects the head, the eyes and the muscles. It is one of the oldest tonalities. In Persian it has meanings like ‘straightforward, alive, real’ and ‘correct’. Since it has spasm relieving attributes, it is beneficial for the curing of spastic and autistic patients. It is also associated with the planet Mars. Sign: Aries. Group: Fire

Rehavi Tonality

Sign: LIBRA. Group: WIND. Hot and dry. It is effective around dawn and between mid-afternoon and late evening. It has connections with Leo, the Sun and Sundays. It is beneficial against yellow gall, humid and dry and influences, masculinity, right shoulder problems, headaches, nose bleeding, mouth paralysis, illnesses related with phlegm and mental disorders. It helps labor and is good for the chest, stomach and the flanks. It induces feelings of defying gravity and infinitude. Its meaning is something like ‘from Urfa’ or ‘belonging to Urfa’. It dates back as far as the late 9th century. It is mentioned a great deal in the works of Avicenna (Ibn-i Sina) and Evliya Celebi. In the recent centuries Rast Tonality has taken its place. ‘Ruhavi’ is another name for this tonality.

Huseyni Tonality

Sign: SCORPIO (Aquarius). Group: WATER. Planet: SATURN. Humid and hot. Effective after dawn and in the morning. Its effect increases between the morning and the noon. Saturday is special. Induces kindness, silence and relaxation; has a relief increasing specialty; stops and destroys the pus of the liver, the heart and the soul. It relieves from the heat of the stomach. It is beneficial against secret fever fit and the fever fit that comes only once a day and all the other fever fits that are seen in adult males. Beneficial against left shoulder problems. Good against malaria. Gives the feeling of peace. Affects the internal organs. Unifies people with nature. Due to its secret pentatonic structure it gives feeling of self confidence and determination and because of this it is beneficial for the autistic and spastic patients. It is one of the oldest tonalities. It has a history of at least six centuries. It has a trustworthy expression. It is beneficial for the heart, liver and the stomach. It has meanings like ‘Little sweetheart’ and ‘related with Huseyin’.

Hicaz (Hidjaz) Tonality

Reflects fire specialties. It has connections with Jupiter. The effects increase between late evening and the morning. Beneficial for dry-cold related disorders. It has healing effects for bone, brain and child illnesses. It has excessive influence on the uro-genital system and the kidneys. Induces humbleness. Increases the low pulse rate. Chest is another area where it makes an impact. It is one of the oldest tonalities. It shows close association with Zengule and Zirgule Tonalities. The name Hicaz (Hidjaz) comes from an area in Arabia. Sign: Sagittarius. Group: Fire.

Acemasiran (Adjemashiran) Tonality

It is effective at the interval between the redness of dawn and mid-morning. Dry and hot in nature. Group: FIRE. It affects the brain and the bones. It helps the fat equilibrium in the body. It gives rise to inspiration and creativity. It activates dormant thoughts and feelings. It helps labor. It corrects the position of the child in the womb by turning it up-side down. It has an ache relieving and spasm solving nature. It increases appetite and helps relaxation. It is one of the oldest transposed tonalities.

Ussak (Ushshak) Tonality

Sign: PISCES. Group: WATER. Planet: JUPITER. Cold and humid in nature. Its effect increases at the interval between the redness of dawn and mid-morning, and at dusk. It has connections with white phlegm, the night and femininity, and has an influence on Thursdays. It is beneficial for heart and feet disorders and the gout illness. It induces feelings of laughter, happiness, power and heroism. It is beneficial for, dry and hot winds which affect all of children’s organs and feet aches which are seen in adult males. It creates a medium to express deep love and mystical feelings. It is one of the oldest tonalities. Its meaning is ‘Lovers’. It is beneficial for sleeping and resting, and gives a feeling of relaxation.

Segah Tonality

Group: WATER and EARTH. Cold in nature. Effective at the interval between mid-morning and mid- afternoon. It is beneficial against obesity due to over heating; insomnia, high pulse rate; heart, liver and muscle disorders. Affects the neurons of the brain. Inspires mystical feelings. It is older than the 14th century.

Saba Tonality

Induces religious feelings, bravery and strength. It also helps relaxation. More effective at dawn.

Buselik Tonality

Induces general relaxation. It is beneficial for the abdominal area and the muscles. Regulates blood tension and circulation.

Isfahan Tonality

Sign: GEMINI (Cancer). Group: AIR. Effective between mid-afternoon and the evening. Cold-humid in nature. It has relation with white phlegm. It is feminine and has a night character, preserves a connection with Mondays. Due to its cold nature, it protects the body from illnesses which cause high fever. Affects the nape, the neck, the shoulders and the left elbow. It increases the feeling of being secure, the act of adaptation, mobility; refreshing one’s self and the memories plus intelligence and clearness of the mind. It dates back as far as seven centuries.

Neva Tonality

Sign: AQUARIUS (Capricorn). Planet: SATURN. Group: AIR. Dry-cold in nature. It has connections with black gall. Shows feminine specialties. It has a better effect in the night and at the interval between mid-morning and mid-afternoon. It makes an impression on the right side of the chest, the kidneys, the spine, the hips and the thigh. Relieves from sorrow; increases appetite. It is known as a heart caressing tonality. It is said to dissipate bad thoughts, induce courage and stoutheartedness and create happiness of the heart. It gives rise to the feelings of power and heroism. Beneficial against mental disorders. It is one of the oldest tonalities. It has healing effects against children illnesses related to adolescence and also gynaecological disorders. It has meanings like ‘sound, volume, tonality and harmony’.

Irak Tonality

Sign: TAURUS. Associated with the planet Venus. GROUP: EARTH. Effective around pre-dawn and mid-afternoon. It has a dry-cold nature. It has a relation with black gall. Its character is feminine and is effective in the night and on Fridays. It is beneficial against illnesses like meningitis; brain and mental disorders. It affects the shoulders, arms (left arm) and hands. It is also known to affect the upper side of the head. It has an impact on taste and increases thought and insight. Relieves from feelings of fear. Prevents aggression and heals neurotic patients. This tonality dates back at least seven centuries. Spiritual value has been observed. It comes from Iraq-i Adjem area of Middle East.

Buzurk Tonality

Sign: LEO. Group: FIRE. Planet (Star): THE SUN. Cold and hot-dry in nature. It is effective from the redness of the dawn till mid-morning. It has connections with black phlegm, femininity and the night. It also has a relation with the planet Mercury and Wednesday. Clears the mind, repels apprehension and fear. Directs thought. It is beneficial against intense illnesses due to acute abdominal pains and brain damage. It restores strength. It affects the neck, the throat, the chest, the liver, the heart and the flanks. Its meaning in Persian is ‘large, big’. It dates back as far as seven-eight centuries.

Zirefkend Tonality

Sign: CANCER. Planet: MERCURY. Group: WATER. Effective around sleeping time. Hot-humid in nature. It has connection with blood, masculinity and the mornings. Its day is Wednesday. It is beneficial against back joint and acute abdominal pains. It has an effect on contorted or warped mouth due to brain disorders, the heart, the lungs, the liver, the hip and the right shoulder. It increases the joy of friends’ gatherings and gives rise to inner feelings. Its meaning in Persian is ‘bed, the place to lie down’. It dates back to the thirteenth century.

Zengule Tonality

Sign: VIRGO (Libra). Planet: VENUS. Group: EARTH. Hot-humid in nature. Effective after dusk. It has connections with Air. It has relations with blood, masculinity, daytime and Friday. It affects the hip joints and the inner side of the legs. It is beneficial against heart disorders, meningitis and illnesses caused by brain disorders. To treat brain disorders and mental illnesses this tonality stops stomach and liver fever. It inculcates secrets and inspires the imagination; it help sleeping and induces feelings related to fairy tales. In Persian its meaning is ‘rattle’ and ‘bell’. It is also the name of a Turkish hero in Persian mythology.